How to Repair Damaged Lawn

If you see that a section of your lawn is no longer growing any healthy grass, it needs to be repaired immediately. Otherwise, you are going to be left with an unsightly lawn. Wouldn’t you want a lush, green lawn instead?

#1 Identify the Cause

We all know what a bare section of a lawn looks like, but the causes can differ from one patch to another. For one, too much fertilizer can be the most significant factor. Other reasons can be that the grass succumbed to a plant disease or an insect infestation. In contrast, too many grasses grew in the same area and competed against each other — depleting the available nutrients could also lead to the same problem.

Once you’ve identified the cause of the damaged section of the lawn, you can take the necessary steps to address them. Try to avoid fertilizer spills next time. Research on how you can stop the plant disease from spreading. Buy the appropriate insecticide or place them in soapy water if turns out to be effective. Know how to provide enough space for each grass to full grow.

#2 Pick the Right Grass Variety for Overseeding

After addressing the primary cause of the damaged patch of your lawn, it’s time to plant new grass. If you live in a northern state such as Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio, overseeding is best conducted during fall. This will allow the cool-season grasses such as perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass to establish their root systems well before the summer season arrives.

On the other hand, homeowners residing in southern states such as Delaware, Florida, and South Carolina, you should overseed with warm-season grass varieties such as bahiagrass, Bermuda grass, and zoysiagrass.

#3 Prepare the Damaged Area

It’s best to separate the damaged area from the other parts in your lawn. Get a shovel and dig around the area to create a border. Also, pull up any unhealthy grasses and weeds. Use a garden rake to remove any debris and clumps of dirt on the soil surface.

Now, get your lawn mower and mow any existing healthy lawn grass in the damaged patch as close to the ground as possible. However, do note that the crowns should be unscraped. After the mowing operation, collect all the lawn clippings and dispose of them. By this time, the damaged section will be bare enough for the grass seeds to come in contact with the soil.

After mowing, rake again the soil located between the newly mown lawn grasses. This will help prepare a decent seedbed for the grass seeds to be planted. Consequently, you may apply a layer of compost and a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to improve the soil quality. Keep the soil surface even with your garden rake.

#4 Begin Planting the Seeds

Afterward, get the grass seeds and begin to saw them in the bare patch of the lawn. You should follow what is recommended on the seed package. The amount indicated will ensure that enough seeds will land on the soil even if some get stuck on the grass. Once the grass seeds have been sown, you can add any topdressing material to improve the quality of the damaged lawn.

A layer of straw or topsoil should protect not only the seeds but also the seedlings from birds. Furthermore, the thin layer on the soil will preserve more moisture for the new grass. Don’t forget to water the affected area frequently to encourage optimal growth and the root establishment. Once the new grasses are at least three inches in height, they are eligible for mowing.

#5 Use Sod as an Alternative to Seeds

Apart from sowing grass seeds on your damaged lawn, you can also use sod instead. It’s the fastest way to cover your damaged lawn. The preparations for laying sod are similar to when you sow seed in the affected area. Just dig a border around the area, rake the soil to remove debris, and pull up any weeds and dying grasses.

It’s important that you mow the existing grass up to just an inch from the soil surface. This will allow the sod to be equal in height with the grass. Once the preparations are complete, get a strip of sod and place it firmly on the damaged site. Let it settle faster on the area by walking on it for a bit. Afterward, water the affected area deeply and frequently.

In conclusion, there are many causes of a damaged lawn. It could be due to improper lawn maintenance such as applying too much fertilizer and not providing enough water. The cause might be due to diseases, pests, and overcrowding. Once you’ve addressed these problems, repairing your damaged lawn is simple. You can opt to use new seeds or lay sod to help your damaged lawn recover.

We hope that our quick guide helped you recover your damaged lawn. If you have any queries, do send us a comment.

I'm Ann, I have dedicated most of my life in gardening. This is a subject I enjoy the most. Since then, I committed to developing my website to be the best guidance when it comes to taking care of flowers and plants. I am trying my best to be well-versed with plants found in desert areas, tropics or Mediterranean. I still need to be knowledgeable about so many kinds of botanical life.

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